What causes smoke production in an oil burner system?

Smoke production in an oil burner system is primarily caused by incomplete combustion or an incorrect air-fuel mixture. When oil burners operate, they rely on the proper balance of air and fuel to achieve complete combustion.

When there isn’t enough oxygen due to insufficient air intake or if there’s too much fuel, the combustion process is not efficient. This inefficiency produces unburned fuel particles that escape into the exhaust, resulting in smoke. Conversely, if there is too much air, it can lead to a situation where there isn't enough fuel to maintain combustion, but this typically causes a different issue (like poor heating efficiency) rather than smoke.

Low ambient temperature might affect the efficiency of combustion, but it does not directly cause smoke. Thus, the critical factor for smoke production is the condition when the air-fuel mixture is not optimized, which refers to the incomplete combustion aspect of the system. This concept is fundamental in understanding the operation and maintenance of oil burner systems to ensure clean and efficient combustion.